Australia presses Pacific nations

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Australian Prime Minister John Howard says he will press Pacific countries that receive Australian aid to cut out corruption and improve their finances.

Speaking before a South Pacific leaders meeting, Mr Howard said he still wanted to provide significant amounts of aid.

"Our only request is that that aid be accompanied by improved standards of governance," he said.

The three-day Pacific Islands Forum in Fiji is being held at a time of tension between Australia and its neighbours.

The row stems mainly from the involvement of the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea in the case of fugitive Australian lawyer Julian Moti, who is wanted on child abuse charges.

Strained ties

Canberra has asked the Solomon Islands to extradite Mr Moti - a close friend of Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare - to face charges in his home country.

The Solomons government, which receives millions of dollars in Australian assistance, has said the extradition request is politically motivated, and has accused Australia of using aid money to further its own national agenda in the South Pacific.

Mr Howard, though, has rejected this argument, saying: "The real issue there is allowing the law to take its course. This man is wanted to answer criminal charges."

"We're not trying to make the Solomon Islands into another Australia," he said. "We are, however, respectfully requiring countries who receive our aid to lift their standards of governance."

Relations between Australia and Papua New Guinea are also strained, because Mr Moti was able to escape from there to the Solomon Islands.

Pacific Forum chairman, Fiji Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, said he was sure a way of resolving the issues would be found.

"There will be strong words here and there, but that's part of the game, and it's very healthy, very democratic," Mr Qarase told the Associated Press.

The forum will culminate in a leaders' retreat on Wednesday.